By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports activities
This week we’ve got six Large Ten convention video games. In the meantime, Northwestern concludes the non-conference portion of its schedule with a go to from Louisiana-Monroe.
Among the many West Coast Large Ten faculties, solely UCLA and Washington are in motion this week.
The Bruins get a go to from a hungry Nittany Lions staff, whereas the Huskies go to Maryland in what might be a tough cross-country highway check.
With apologies to the Wildcats and Warhawks, we keep on with convention video games solely this week.
Here’s a have a look at the six Large Ten video games of Week Six.
Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Wolverines
Saturday, October 4
9:00 AM PT, FOX
Line: Michigan -16.5
Over/Beneath: 42.5
Wisconsin continues to steer the nation in rush protection, permitting simply 50 yards on the bottom per recreation this season.
That’s the excellent news.
Within the different video games, these 4 opponents have performed towards FBS opponents these groups are solely averaging 119.6 yards per recreation on the bottom.
So, limiting these opponents greater than half their regular common is sweet, however it isn’t like all of these groups are producing enormous dashing numbers to start with.
Michigan, then again, is an excellent operating staff. The Wolverines are at present eighth within the nation, producing 253.5 yards per recreation. If Wisconsin can maintain them to below 100, then we will take discover.
And may the Badger protection proceed to carry an opponent to 59% lower than their dashing common, and restrict Michigan to 105 yards on the bottom, then Wisconsin will win this recreation.
However the Badgers won’t restrict Michigan to 105; in reality, I feel Michigan runs for not less than 175 on them. Justin Haynes ranks third within the nation operating the ball for 134.3 per outing on their own.
On the opposite facet of the ball, Danny O’Neil was battered by the Maryland cross rush final day trip. Whether or not it’s O’Neil once more or Billy Edwards below heart, neither may have a lot time to function.
UW is permitting 3.25 sacks per recreation, which is 126th within the nation. Michigan is attending to the QB higher than all however 5 groups nationally this season with 3.5 sacks per recreation.
Search for the Wolverines to grind this one out on offense and stymie the Badgers after they have the ball. Michigan wins this one comfortably.
Towards the unfold: Michigan
Factors Whole: Beneath
Outright winner: Michigan
Illinois Preventing Illini at Purdue Boilermakers
Saturday, October 4
9:00 AM PT, BTN
Line: Illinois -9.5
Over/Beneath: 56.5
Tright here isn’t any motive on the planet that Illinois mustn’t go away West Lafayette with the Cannon in hand as a reward for beating Purdue.
However then once more, there was no motive on the planet why it took a frantic comeback for the Illini to beat Purdue in OT final season. That snapped an Illini four-game dropping streak within the battle for the Cannon.
Illinois is 8-1 of their final 9 video games and averaged 34.9 factors per recreation throughout that stretch. The lone outing at Indiana a few weeks in the past being the outlier. Illinois and Luke Altmyer rebounded final week to beat an excellent USC staff.
Altmyer is twelfth within the nation in passing effectivity, Purdue is 112th within the nation in opponent passer ranking and of their two losses to Notre Dame and USC, the Boilers have had a ranking of 183.1 towards them.
If Purdue desires to have any probability of pulling the upset, they should get the bottom recreation going behind Devin Mockobee. The senior again is averaging simply 61.5 yards per recreation with over half of his season complete coming towards Southern Illinois.
Towards FBS opposition he’s averaging simply 40 yards per recreation. If Purdue can’t run the ball towards Illinois, they don’t have any shot.
Towards the unfold: Illinois
Factors Whole: Beneath
Outright winner: Illinois
Penn State Nittany Lions at UCLA Bruins
Saturday, October 4
12:30 PM PT, CBS
Line: Penn State -25.5
Over/Beneath: 50.5
Well, UCLA regarded like a staff with a bit extra combat in them final week in Evanston, so possibly Tim Skipper can get one thing out of them in spite of everything. That was additionally towards Northwestern and the offense by no means actually bought going in any respect.
So, extra adjustments throughout the Bruins workers. Tino Sunseri is out as OC and Jerry Neuheisel steps to name the offensive performs.
Beginning issues off towards a Penn State squad coming off a tricky loss to Oregon might not be the optimum leaping off level. The Bruins offense has been woeful this season, rating 117th within the nation.
Penn State, then again, has the Nineteenth-best protection within the nation statistically talking. Who is looking the performs might not matter on this one, however we may not less than see if the Bruins have a bit extra creativity within the play calling.
If UCLA is to shock the world, then they may want Nico Iamaleava to have an enormous recreation. The QB leads the Bruins in dashing this season and he may have to supply along with his arm and legs on this one.
Penn State will carry loads of stress and his means to make one thing out of busted performs will probably be essential. Final week, Dante Moore had 35 yards on 10 carries, some out of necessity and a few by design.
The Bruins will want extra of that from their QB this week as they don’t have the weapons to match Penn State punch for punch.
Towards the unfold: Penn State
Factors Whole: Over
Outright winner: Penn State
Washington Huskies at Maryland Terrapins
Saturday, October 4
12:30 PM PT, BTN
Line: Washington -6.5
Over/Beneath: 52.5
The solely prior assembly for Maryland and Washington on the gridiron got here within the first version of the Aloha Bowl in 1982. In that one it was the Huskies selecting up a 21-20 win for the Pac-10 over the Terps of the ACC.
Quick ahead 43 years and that bowl recreation the 2 faculties inaugurated is now not a bowl recreation and the groups are assembly as convention foes in a pivotal recreation for each.
Washington is coming off a loss to Ohio State to open convention play. Maryland is 4-0 following a highway win at Wisconsin to open Large Ten play. We all know the Buckeyes are superb, however I’m not so certain concerning the Badgers.
However the 20-point lead the Terps took into the half towards Wisconsin was the packages largest highway lead on the break in a convention recreation since they led at NC State 24-0 in 2007 as an ACC member. . . So this one looks like a harmful highway journey for UW.
A motive for the Huskies to be involved is the play of Malik Washington at QB for UMD. The QB is placing up numbers that haven’t been seen from a real freshman since Jayden Daniels at Arizona State in 2019.
The Terps protection has additionally been good, permitting simply 43 factors this season, the fewest by a Maryland staff within the first 4 video games of the season since 2013. This Washington offense, nevertheless, will probably be in contrast to something the Terps have seen this season.
Maryland gave up 180 on the bottom to Northern Illinois, the identical staff that was restricted to 112 on the bottom in a 6-3 loss to San Diego State final week.
The Huskies are operating the ball for 201.3 per outing and 260 within the three video games not towards Ohio State. Jonah Coleman and the UW offense will get theirs.
The query is whether or not the Huskies can restrict Maryland and its potent passing assault. And that reply, I feel, is a sure. Malik Washington is superb, and he’ll get even higher, he simply wants extra round him and the Terps simply don’t have it this season.
Towards Wisconsin, the wideouts had manner too many dropped passes. Malik Washington goes to will Maryland to an upset win this season, it’s simply not occurring this week.
Towards the unfold: Maryland
Factors Whole: Over
Outright winner: Washington
Michigan State Spartans at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Saturday, October 4
1:00 PM PT, FS1
Line: Nebraska -11.5
Over/Beneath: 48.5
Michigan State isn’t ranked, so the Huskers ought to win this one. Is it actually that simple? In all probability not. However the actually telling signal is that the Spartan passing protection is final within the Large Ten and 117th within the nation.
Nebraska’s passing offense is the second-best within the nation with a Large Ten main 351.8 yards per recreation.
Dylan Raiola racked up 308 yards in passing towards Michigan the final day trip, and he’ll feast on this Michigan State secondary.
If the numbers will not be as gawdy this day trip it’s fairly just because the Huskers may also have success on the bottom towards MSU, one thing they may not do towards UM.
The Spartans have been pedestrian at greatest this season on offense, however they’ve the potential to supply on that facet of the ball. MSU has weapons with Omari Kelly and Nick Marsh on the surface and a wholesome Makhi Frazier is a risk within the backfield.
Aidan Chiles must proceed to be sharp with the soccer and keep away from turnovers.
Nebraska will win this one, the 11.5 appears to be ripe for a late backdoor cowl from MSU, however I’m going to say Nebraska retains it round a two TD victory.
Search for each groups to place up factors and run this one over the 48.5 on supply.
Towards the unfold: Nebraska
Factors Whole: Over
Outright winner: Nebraska
Minnesota Golden Gophers at Ohio State Buckeyes
Saturday, October 4
4:30 pm PT, NBC
Line: Ohio State -24
Over/Beneath: 44.5
Ohio State is simply quietly getting issues performed because the No. 1 staff within the nation. Oregon has the large win over Penn State. Ole Miss has received three convention video games and knocked off LSU. Miami has a ton of flash. . .
However Ohio State simply retains on profitable—and doing so in dominant style.
The Buckeyes protection has but to permit double digits in a recreation, together with a Texas staff that’s averaging 40 factors per recreation when not taking part in Ohio State.
Julian Sayin leads the nation with a completion fee of 78.8 whereas rating fourth in America with a ranking of 189.81. On protection Caden Curry leads the nation with 2.0 tackles for loss per recreation this season and is second with 1.25 sacks per outing.
Oh, and by the way in which, OSU is 13-0 all-time when he will get not less than one TFL. This Buckeye staff is sweet and very balanced.
Minnesota might want to play an ideal recreation to get a win on this one. The Gophers are 91st within the nation in purple zone scoring. The Gophers have left far too many factors on the sector this season and may’t afford to squander the few scoring possibilities they may have.
Since 1981, Ohio State is 29-1 towards Minnesota. In actual fact, in the event you return to 1969, the Buckeyes have received 40 of the final 42 within the sequence. That’s run isn’t stopping this week, OSU wins massive.
The Gophers protection is perhaps stout sufficient to maintain the full below 44.5, however this one has a 38-6 form of really feel to it.
Towards the unfold: Ohio State
Factors Whole: Beneath
Outright winner: Ohio State
writes about varied matters for SuperWest sports activities, together with stats and data, school sports activities, and motorsports. He additionally based and runs the Sports activities and Leisure Analysis Heart (SERC).
